, the long road home. as president obama said last night, the u.s. combat mission in iraq has come to an end. >> when our brave fighting men and women arrive back home there will be many smiling faces waiting for them. >> reporter: surprised faces overflowing with tears and love. for everyone, long journey ended. stru hugs so tight they seem to squeeze the months of worry away. there's the 10-year-old who made brave video diaries. >> master sergeant joe meyers is in iraq right now. >> not knowing, later at school -- >> there's my daughter. >> hey, baby. come here. >> daddy! >> reporter: in another classroom, a navy s.e.a.l., senior chief terry doss, appearing in daughter terian's third grade. waiti ining one year for daddy come home. >> reporter: and in san antonio, texas, another surprise. little taylor rias can't believe her eyes. >> i was thinking it was something different but it was my daddy. >> reporter: eight months without him, an eternity for a 5-year-old. >> it's a real joy to see her run to me like that. i'm not going to cry. >> reporter: when you're finally together, feeling too